Color printing system

ABSTRACT

In a color printing system the printer driver automatically obtains local characteristic information, such as countries, cities, languages, etc., stored in the OS of the host computer. The printer driver or the image forming apparatus color-converts the input data into output data, which reflects the color preference of the specific region where the image forming apparatus is installed, by using the look-up table corresponding to the local characteristic information obtained by the printer driver. Accordingly, the color preference of the specific region, in which the image forming apparatus is installed, is set more quickly and easily without requiring a complicated structure. The system includes a host computer to store local characteristic information of a region where an apparatus is installed, a printer driver to store look-up tables according to the local characteristic information, to select a look-up table corresponding to the local characteristic information obtained from the host computer, and to convert input data into output data representing a color corresponding to a color preference of a specific region by using the selected look-up table, and an image forming apparatus which is connected to the host computer so as to receive and print the output data, which is color-converted by the printer driver.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) from KoreanPatent Application No. 2007-66338, filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Jul. 3, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to a color printingsystem, and more particularly, to a color printing system capable ofreproducing color according to a user preference and a region where acolor printer is used.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a method employing a look-up table is widely used toreproduce a color copy similar to an original color in a color printer.The method of employing the look-up table is generally adopted in aprinter or a scanner that experiences severe color distortion, and iscapable of reliably expressing color variations over the entire colorgamut. However, not only is it difficult to prepare the look-up table,but also the look-up table requires a large memory. Therefore, since aprocess for preparing the look-up table is very complicated and causesinconvenience because the color measurement is manually performed, alook-up table that is uniformly prepared by color printer manufacturersis employed in the conventional color printer.

Meanwhile, with the progress of color printing and the increase ininternational trade, color printers of the same brand are extensivelyused in various regions in the world.

However, there are colors that correspond with the preferences ofinhabitants of particular regions or localities. The color preferencesmay reflect the emotion of inhabitants living in a specific region, sothat the color preference corresponds to a color of cultural impact. Forexample, the Chinese like a red color, and Europeans are in favor ofblue-based colors. In addition, since Asians and Westerners havedifferent cultures and skin colors, they have a different color senseregarding flesh tones. Such a color preference may apply not only to theskin color, but also to the colors that people have seen continuouslyfrom one's childhood, such as colors in the sky, or vegetation in thatregion.

However, as the uniform look-up table is conventionally used accordingto the types of color printers, the color correction is uniformlyperformed without taking the color preference in each region intoconsideration.

In order to solve such problems, Korean Patent No. 601718 discloses atechnology of reproducing colors according to the color preferences ofusers in each country by confirming the current location of a colorprinter by using a GPS (global positioning system), downloading a colorconversion look-up table corresponding to each country code from aserver based on each country code, and converting the color of adocument by using the downloaded look-up table.

However, since the above-mentioned approach requires the GPS to confirmthe location of the color printer and download the color conversionlook-up table corresponding to each country code from the server afterrecognizing each country code, the above-mentioned approach has acomplicated structure while being expensive and slow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides a color printing system,capable of effectively reproducing colors according to the colorpreferences a user color preference and a region where an image formingapparatus is installed.

In addition, the present general inventive concept provides a colorprinting system, capable of quickly and easily determining the colorpreferences of persons living in a region where an image formingapparatus is installed.

Additional aspects and/or utilities of the general inventive conceptwill be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice ofthe general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may be achieved by providing a color printing systemincluding a host computer to store local characteristic information of aregion where an apparatus is installed, a printer driver to storelook-up tables according to the local characteristic information, toselect a look-up table corresponding to the local characteristicinformation obtained from the host computer, and to convert input datainto output data representing a color corresponding to a colorpreference of a specific region by using the selected look-up table, andan image forming apparatus which is connected to the host computer so asto receive and print the output data, which is color-converted by theprinter driver.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a color printingsystem including a host computer to store local characteristicinformation of a region where an apparatus is installed, a printerdriver to obtain automatically the local characteristic information fromthe host computer, and an image forming apparatus, which is connected tothe host computer, to store look-up tables according to the localcharacteristic information, to receive the local characteristicinformation obtained from the printer driver to select a look-up tablecorresponding to the received local characteristic information, toconvert input data into output data representing a color correspondingto a color preference of a specific region by using the selected look-uptable, and to print the output data.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method ofoperating a color printing system, the method including storing localcharacteristic information corresponding to a geographic location wherethe system operates, storing look-up tables including a look-up tablecorresponding to the local characteristic information, retrieving thestored local characteristic information after initiation of a printingsequence, selecting the look-up table corresponding to the localcharacteristic information, converting input data into output data byusing the selected look-up table, the output data including a colorassociated with the geographic location where the system operates andprinting the color.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a local networkincluding a server to store local characteristic informationcorresponding to a geographical location where the server operates, aplurality of terminals connected in a communication channel with theserver, each terminal including a printer driver to obtain automaticallyfrom the server the local characteristic information and an imageforming apparatus in the communication channel with the server andterminals, to store look-up tables including a look-up tablecorresponding to the local characteristic information, the apparatuscapable of receiving the local characteristic information whentransmitted from the printer driver of any terminal, in order to selecta look-up table corresponding to the received local characteristicinformation, to convert input data into output data appropriatelycorresponding to the geographical location of the server, by using theselected look-up table, and printing the output data.

The output data corresponding to the geographical location of the servermay include at least one color.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a color printingsystem including a memory to store local characteristic information anda control unit to select one of the local characteristic information,and to convert input data to output data to represent a colorcorresponding to the selected one of the local characteristicinformation such that the output data is printed on a printing medium.

The color printing system may include input data in an RGB format.

The color printing system may include output data in an YMCK format.

The color printing system may provide the control unit as a printerdriver.

The color printing system may allow the printer driver to receive thelocal characteristic information from an operating system of a hostcomputer upon request when the printer driver receives a printingcommand relative to the input data, thereby automatically obtaining thelocal characteristic information.

The color printing system may allow the control unit to change theselected look-up table to a different look-up table according to arequest by a user.

The color printing system may allow the local characteristic informationto include at least one of continent information, country information,city information and language information of a region where the controlunit is installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and utilities of the general inventiveconcept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from thefollowing description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a color printing system according to an embodimentof the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating country information and languageinformation which are examples of local characteristic informationstored in an operating system of the host computer illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating city information which is an example oflocal characteristic information stored in the system illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an operation of a printer driver when aplurality of look-up tables are stored in the printer driver accordingto an embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an operation of a printer when a pluralityof look-up tables are stored in the printer according to anotherembodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a case in which local characteristicinformation is continent information according to another embodiment ofthe present general inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a case in which local characteristicinformation is city information according to another embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a case in which local characteristicinformation is language information according to another embodiment ofthe present general inventive concept;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a change in a look-up table correspondingto selected local characteristic information according to anotherembodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating another example of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of setting a look-uptable corresponding to local characteristic information of a regionwhere a host computer is installed according to the embodiment of FIG.4; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a color printing systemaccording to another embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain thepresent general inventive concept by referring to the figures.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a color printing system 100 according to anembodiment of the present general inventive concept includes a hostcomputer 10, an image forming apparatus 30, such as an inkjet printer, alaser printer, a multifunctional peripheral, etc., which is connected tothe host computer 10 through a network 40, and a printer driver 20installed in the host computer 10 to control a printing function of theimage forming apparatus 30.

The host computer 10 includes an input device, a display device, a ROM(random only memory), a RAM (random access memory) and an interfacedevice. The input device is a user interface. The input device includesa keyboard 11, a mouse 12, etc., so that a user may input variousfunctions supported by the host computer 10. The user inputs variouscommands required for operating the system 100 by controlling thekeyboard 11, the mouse 12, etc. The display device includes a CRT 13(cathode ray tube) and may also include an LCD (liquid crystal display,not shown), and the user may confirm information on various programsexecuted by the host computer 10 in letters and graphics by referring toa UI (user interface) window. With such a display device, the user canconfirm execution and result of the program by referring to the UIwindow displayed on a display section 120. The ROM is a non-volatilememory, and it retains information stored therein even when power of thehost computer 10 is interrupted. Such a ROM stores a control program andvarious application programs, such as an OS (operating system), whichare required for realizing functions of the host computer 10. The RAM isa volatile memory, and it stores various data generated during theexecution of the program.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the host computer 10 having the abovecomponents is provided with an OS such as Microsoft WINDOWS® , LINUX,etc. Local characteristic information is stored in the OS. The localcharacteristic information includes country information such as Korea,Japan, China, etc., city information such as Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing,etc., and language information such as Korean, Japanese, Chinese, etc.Such local characteristic information is basically set in the OS whenthe OS is installed in the host computer 10.

Hereinafter, the printer will be described as an example of the imageforming apparatus 30 by assigning the same reference numeral 30 for thesake of convenience.

The printer driver 20 or the printer 30 is provided with a plurality oflook-up tables (LUT) used for color-converting predetermined RGB (red,green and blue) data into YMCK (yellow, magenta, cyan and black) data.The look-up tables color-convert the random RGB data into the YMCK datarepresenting a color corresponding to color preference of a personliving in a specific region. The look-up tables correspond to the localcharacteristic information.

The printer driver 20 receives data from the application programinstalled in the host computer 10 and then outputs print data to theprinter 30, which is capable of interpreting the output print data.

When the look-up tables are stored in the printer driver 20 according tothe local characteristic information, if the printer driver 20 isinstalled in the host computer 10 or if the printer driver 20 receives aprinting command from the host computer 10, the printer driver 20automatically obtains the local characteristic information stored in thehost computer 10. Then, after color-converting RGB print data into YMCKprint data representing the color corresponding to the color preferenceof the specific region by using the look-up tables corresponding to theobtained local characteristic information, the printer driver 20transmits the YMCK print data to the printer 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the look-up tables corresponding to the localcharacteristic information are stored in the printer driver 20. If theprinter driver 20 is installed in the host computer 10 or if the printerdriver 20 receives the printing command from the host computer 10, theprinter driver 20 requests the local characteristic information from thehost computer 10. Upon receiving the request, the host computer 10transmits the local characteristic information stored in the OS to theprinter driver 20. Accordingly, the printer driver 20 automaticallyobtains the local characteristic information of a region where the hostcomputer 10 is installed. Then, the printer driver 20 selects a look-uptable corresponding to the obtained local characteristic informationfrom the plural look-up tables by using the obtained localcharacteristic information, and then sets the selected look-up table asa basic look-up table. After color-converting RGB type input data intoYMCK type output data by using the selected look-up table, the printerdriver 20 transmits the YMCK print data to the printer 30.

Meanwhile, when the look-up tables are stored in the printer driver 20according to the local characteristic information, if the printer driver20 is installed in the host computer 10 or if the printer driver 20receives a printing command from the host computer 10, the printerdriver 20 automatically obtains the local characteristic informationstored in the host computer 10 and transmits the obtained localcharacteristic information to the printer 30. After converting RGB printdata into YMCK print data representing the color corresponding to thecolor preference of the specific region by using the look-up tablescorresponding to the local characteristic information obtained by theprinter driver 20, the printer 30 performs a printing process.

It is possible that the host computer 10 includes a memory to store thelook-up tables.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the look-up tables corresponding to the localcharacteristic information are stored in the printer 30. If the printerdriver 20 is installed in the host computer 10 or if the printer driver20 receives the printing command from the host computer 10, the printerdriver 20 requests the local characteristic information to the hostcomputer 10. Upon receiving the request, the host computer 10 transmitsthe local characteristic information stored in the OS to the printerdriver 20. Accordingly, the printer driver 20 automatically obtains thelocal characteristic information of a region where the host computer 10is installed. Then, the printer driver 20 transmits the obtained localcharacteristic information to the printer 30. The printer 30 receivesthe local characteristic information obtained by the printer driver 20to select a look-up table corresponding to the obtained localcharacteristic information from the plural look-up tables, and then setsthe selected look-up table as a basic look-up table for the colorconversion. After that, the printer 30 converts RGB type input data intoYMCK type output data suitable for the color tone preference of thespecific region by using the selected look-up table, and then performs aprinting process.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 8, the local characteristicinformation may include any geographic location information, e.g.continent information such as North America, Europe, Asia, etc., or cityinformation such as Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, etc., or language informationsuch as Korean, Japanese, Chinese, etc. In addition, the localcharacteristic information may include country information such asKorea, Japan, China, etc. Moreover, the local characteristic informationmay include a combination of the above-mentioned information.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, even if the look-up table is set from theplural look-up tables, the user can click the color preference item froma color set-up window used for allowing the user to change the colorpreference, and then the user can select one set of the desired localcharacteristic information, such as “Asia”, “America”, “Europe”, “MiddleEast”, “Africa”, etc., or “sapphire”, “ruby”, “emerald”, “aquamarine”,etc., as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, so that the user can change thecolor preference by replacing the preset look-up table with a differentlook-up table.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, a color printing system 100′ includes aserver 50 in a communication channel 60 with printer 30 and a pluralityof computers or terminals 10. Each computer 10 is connected in acommunication channel 60. The local characteristic informationcorresponds to the geographical location where the server 50 operates.The plurality of terminals 10 are connected in the communication channel60 with the server 50. Each terminal includes a printer driver 20 toobtain automatically from the server 50 the local characteristicinformation. A printer 30 in the communication channel 60 with theserver 50 and terminals 10, stores look-up tables including a look-uptable corresponding to the local characteristic information. The printer30 is capable of receiving the local characteristic information whentransmitted from the printer driver 20 of any terminal 10 in a printingsequence after the print command has been given. After receiving thelocal characteristic information, the printer 30 selects a look-up tablecorresponding to the received local characteristic information, toconvert input data into output data appropriately corresponding to thegeographical location of the server 50, by using the selected look-uptable, and printing the output data.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the color printing system according to anembodiment of the present general inventive concept is capable ofsetting a look-up table, which reflects the color preferencescorresponding to a region where the printer 30 is installed, throughinstallation of the printer driver 20 in the host computer 10 (S100),allowing the printer driver 20 to automatically obtain the localcharacteristic information stored in the OS of the host computer 10 whenthe printer driver 20 is installed in the host computer 10 (S110),allowing the printer driver 20 or the printer 30 to select a look-uptable corresponding to the local characteristic information obtained bythe printer driver 20 (S120), allowing the printer driver 20 or theprinter 30 to set the selected look-up table as a basic look-up tablefor the color conversion (S130), and completing the installation of theprinter driver 20 in the host computer 10 (S140). After that, the RGBprint data is color-converted into the YMCK print data representing thecolor corresponding to the color preferences of the specific regionaccording to the print command by using the look-up table, and then theprinter 30 performs the printing process.

According to the present general inventive concept, the image formingapparatus 30 may include a memory to store the above-described look-uptables. The UI may be displayed on a screen of a key pad 120, and thelocal characteristic information can be selected using a key of the keypad 120. In this case, the host computer 10 may not have the look-uptables, and the image forming apparatus 30 may receive print data, towhich the local characteristic information is not applied, and aconverting process to convert the print data according to the inputlocal characteristic information such that a user color preferenceand/or the local characteristic information are used to change or adjustthe print data.

The present general inventive concept can be realized as a method, anapparatus, and a system. When the present general inventive concept ismanifested in computer software, components of the present generalinventive concept may be replaced with code segments that are necessaryto perform the required action. Programs or code segments may be storedin media readable by a processor, and transmitted as computer data thatis combined with carrier waves via a transmission media or acommunication network.

The media readable by a processor include anything that can store andtransmit information, such as, electronic circuits, semiconductor memorydevices, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, floppy discs, optical discs, harddiscs, optical fiber, radio frequency (RF) networks, etc. The computerdata also includes any data that can be transmitted via an electricnetwork channel, optical fiber, air, electromagnetic field, RF network,etc.

As described above, according to the present general inventive concept,the printer driver automatically obtains the local characteristicinformation, such as countries, cities, languages, etc., stored in theOS of the host computer as basic information. The printer driver or theimage forming apparatus color-converts the input data into the outputdata, which reflects the color preference of the specific region wherethe image forming apparatus is installed, by using the look-up tablecorresponding to the local characteristic information obtained by theprinter driver. Accordingly, the color preference of the specificregion, in which the image forming apparatus is installed, is set morequickly and easily without requiring a complicated structure.

Although few embodiments of the present general inventive concept havebeen illustrated and described, it would be appreciated by those skilledin the art that changes may be made in these embodiments withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of the general inventiveconcept, the scope of which is defined in the claims and theirequivalents.

1. A color printing system comprising: a host computer having a memoryto store local characteristic information of a region where an apparatusis installed; a printer driver to store look-up tables according to thelocal characteristic information, to select a look-up tablecorresponding to the local characteristic information obtained from thehost computer, and to convert input data into output data representing acolor corresponding to a color preference of a specific region by usingthe selected look-up table; and an image forming apparatus which isconnected to the host computer so as to receive and print the outputdata, which is color-converted by the printer driver.
 2. The colorprinting system of claim 1, wherein the printer driver receives thelocal characteristic information from an operating system of the hostcomputer upon request when the printer driver is installed in the hostcomputer, thereby automatically obtaining the local characteristicinformation.
 3. The color printing system of claim 1, wherein theprinter driver receives the local characteristic information from anoperating system of the host computer upon request when the printerdriver receives a printing command relative to the input data, therebyautomatically obtaining the local characteristic information.
 4. Thecolor printing system of claim 1, wherein the local characteristicinformation includes at least one of continent information, countryinformation, city information and language information of a region wherethe host computer is installed.
 5. The color printing system of claim 1,wherein the printer driver changes the selected look-up table to adifferent look-up table according to a request by a user.
 6. A colorprinting system comprising: a host computer to store localcharacteristic information of a region where an apparatus is installed;a printer driver to obtain automatically the local characteristicinformation from the host computer; and an image forming apparatus,which is connected to the host computer, to store look-up tablesaccording to the local characteristic information, to receive the localcharacteristic information obtained from the printer driver to select alook-up table corresponding to the received local characteristicinformation, to convert input data into output data representing a colorcorresponding to a color preference of a specific region by using theselected look-up table, and prints the output data.
 7. The colorprinting system of claim 6, wherein the printer driver receives thelocal characteristic information from an operating system of the hostcomputer upon request when the printer driver is installed in the hostcomputer, thereby automatically obtaining the local characteristicinformation.
 8. The color printing system of claim 6, wherein theprinter driver receives the local characteristic information from anoperating system of the host computer upon request when the printerdriver receives a printing command relative to the input data, therebyautomatically obtaining the local characteristic information.
 9. Thecolor printing system of claim 6, wherein the local characteristicinformation includes at least one of continent information, countryinformation, city information and language information of a region wherethe host computer is installed.
 10. The color printing system of claim6, wherein the image forming apparatus changes the selected look-uptable to a different look-up table according to a request by a user. 11.A method of operating a color printing system, the method comprising:storing local characteristic information corresponding to a geographiclocation where the system operates; storing look-up tables including alook-up table corresponding to the local characteristic information;obtaining the stored local characteristic information after initiationof a printing sequence; selecting the look-up table corresponding to thelocal characteristic information; converting input data into output databy using the selected look-up table, the output data including a colorassociated with the geographic location where the system operates; andprinting the color.
 12. A local network comprising: a server to storelocal characteristic information corresponding to a geographicallocation where the server operates; a plurality of terminals connectedin a communication channel with the server, each terminal including aprinter driver to obtain automatically from the server the localcharacteristic information; and an image forming apparatus in thecommunication channel with the server and terminals, to store look-uptables including a look-up table corresponding to the localcharacteristic information, the apparatus capable of receiving the localcharacteristic information when transmitted from the printer driver ofany terminal, in order to select a look-up table corresponding to thereceived local characteristic information, to convert input data intooutput data appropriately corresponding to the geographical location ofthe server, by using the selected look-up table, and printing the outputdata.
 13. The network of claim 12, wherein the output data appropriatelycorresponding to the geographical location of the server, includes atleast one color.
 14. A color printing system comprising: a memory tostore local characteristic information; and a control unit to select oneof the local characteristic information, and to convert input data tooutput data to represent a color corresponding to the selected one ofthe local characteristic information such that the output data isprinted on a printing medium.
 15. The color printing system of claim 14,wherein the input data is in an RGB format.
 16. The color printingsystem of claim 14, wherein the output data is in an YMCK format. 17.The color printing system of claim 14, wherein the control unit is aprinter driver.
 18. The color printing system of claim 17, wherein theprinter driver receives the local characteristic information from anoperating system of a host computer upon request when the printer driverreceives a printing command relative to the input data, therebyautomatically obtaining the local characteristic information.
 19. Thecolor printing system of claim 14, wherein the control unit changes theselected look-up table to a different look-up table according to arequest by a user.
 20. The color printing system of claim 14, whereinthe local characteristic information includes at least one of continentinformation, country information, city information and languageinformation of a region where the control unit is installed.